On a chilly Tuesday night, the Cincinnati Bearcats made the long journey to face off against the Utah Utes, where they narrowly fell 69-66. This loss brought Cincinnati’s record to an even 12-8, paralleling Utah’s, and left them with a challenging 2-7 mark in Big 12 play. For head coach Wes Miller, the outing was a tough reminder of the team’s ongoing struggles, with their weaknesses glaringly apparent against a Utes squad operating near the same competitive tier.
Diving into the current season, Cincinnati entered the high-pressure arena with a target on their back, starting as the 20th-ranked team in the AP Poll. Not long ago, they climbed to No. 16, showing promise and potential as they squared off against Kansas State in their first Big 12 matchup. However, an 8-11 Kansas State team handed them their first of a series of defeats, starting a four-game losing streak that included tough outings against Arizona, Baylor, and Kansas. Fast forward to the Utah game, and the Bearcats find themselves on another three-game skid, indicating various systemic issues.
The most worrisome of these setbacks was a puzzling 54-40 home defeat to Kansas. Holding one of college basketball’s powerhouse programs to just 54 points only to lose by 14 is nothing short of baffling—highlighting underlying struggles that Miller and his squad face. And indeed, the Bearcats have proven they can lose in nearly every conceivable way: to strong teams and less formidable ones, whether by narrow margins or decisive blowouts, irrespective of the venue.
One critical area exposing Cincinnati’s on-court woes is their shooting—an issue hard to ignore in today’s fast-paced basketball world where effective shooting is a cornerstone of success. The Bearcats’ performance behind the arc reflects their broader offensive struggles, with the team shooting a disappointing 31.7% from three-point range, placing them second to last in the Big 12 and well below many programs nationwide.
The few bright spots in their shooting come from Simas Lukosius and Day Day Thomas, the only players reliably sinking over 36% of their attempts from deep with notable volume. Meanwhile, the forward lineup, featuring names like Aziz Bandaogo, Dillion Mitchell, Arrinten Page, and Tyler Betsey, remains largely ineffectual from three. Their combined 31.8% trailing effort underscores the team’s need for diversified and efficient scoring threats.
Moreover, the struggle extends to free throws. The Bearcats’ free throw percentage rests at a troubling 64.5%, rendering them 14th in the Big 12 and far down the national rankings. In a sport where games often hinge on proficient shooting from the charity stripe, this inefficiency compounds their offensive puzzles and further complicates their path to victories.
Another significant aspect impacting the Bearcats’ performance is player development—particularly a lack thereof in recent years. Despite true freshmen like Dan Skillings, Josh Reed, Jizzle James, and Tyler Betsey earning considerable minutes since 2022, there remains a disconnect between their presence and tangible contributions on the court. Reed and Betsey’s impact remains minimal, while Skillings and James, despite showing flashes of brilliance, struggle with consistency and floor spacing. Whether the challenge lies in recruiting mismatches or developmental gaps falls on the shoulders of Wes Miller and his coaching staff to address.
The most glaring deficiency, though, is the absence of NCAA Tournament success under Miller’s tenure. In an era where programs are rapidly redefined through savvy use of the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, Miller’s sub .600 winning percentage and a history of at least 13 losses per season over four years raise concerns. Unlike peers who have catalyzed swift turnarounds elsewhere, Miller’s efforts have yet to return Cincinnati to its former tournament frequency and form.
As we gaze into the remainder of the 2024-25 season, the road ahead is steep. Without a magical Big 12 tournament run, the Bearcats’ March Madness aspirations may yet again fade into the margins. Cincinnati—a program with storied tournament history—desires a team destined not just to make it to the dance but to be a fixture in the latter stages. Time is of the essence for the Bearcats to rediscover their winning culture, and solutions are imperative if Wes Miller is to guide this storied franchise into brighter, tournament-rich futures.
